Means for operating garment slide fastener

ABSTRACT

A nose-like element is provided with an orifice in its tip to receive and hold a slide fastener or zipper tab. When this element is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the back of a woman desiring to zip or unzip her dress or other garment, and with the zipper tab so inserted in its orifice, is moved in that disposition along the interlocking elements of the slide fastener, the desired zipping or unzipping of the garment is conveniently accomplished. In the preferred embodiment movement of the element is accomplished by its mounting on some type of track means and providing a drawstring to move it up or down on such track means. In a more simple embodiment, the element may be adjustably mounted with a slight cant on the end of an elongated member to be held in one&#39;&#39;s hand and operated in the manner of a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;back scratcher.

United States Patent 1191 Thomas June 18, 1974 MEANS FOR OPERATINGGARMENT SLIDE FASTENER Edward E. Thomas, 158 Donner Ave., Ventura,Calif. 93003 [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,023

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No 165,994. July26, 1971.

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Attorney, Agent, or FirmSmyth,Roston & Pavitt 1 ABSTRACT A nose-like element is provided with anorifice in its tip to receive and hold a slide fastener or zipper tab.When this element is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the backof a woman desiring to zip or unzip her dress or other garment, and withthe zipper tab so inserted in its orifice, is moved in that dispositionalong the interlocking elements of the slide fastener,

the desired zipping or unzipping of the garment is convenientlyaccomplished. 1n the preferred embodiment movement of the element isaccomplished by its mounting on some type of track means and providing adrawstring to move it up or down on such track means. In-a more simpleembodiment, the element may be adjustably mounted with a slight cant onthe end of an elongated member to be held in ones hand and operated inthe manner of a back scratcher.

5 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures aif PMENTEI'Hun m an SHEU 10F 3 iMLi/PATENTEDM 18 1914 saw 2 or 3 law/AW MEANS FOR OPERATING GARMENT SLIDEFASTENER RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation of application Ser.No. 165,994, filed July 26, 1971, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Issue Date Inventor Patent No.

R. S. Vahan 2,604,242 July 22', I952 H. L. Robertson, et al 3,l99,753Aug. I0, 1965 Lewis F. NcNitt- 3,568,901 1 Mar. 9, 1971 While each ofthe mechanisms of these several prior art patents does provide for avertical movement of 'a zipper tab through a wall-mounted pulleyarrangement, none of the mechanisms appears thus-far to have receivedwide-spread consumer acceptance. This lack of consumer acceptance maypossibly be because each prior art mechanism appears to be somewhatcomplicated to installandmaintain; further, because of its complexity,each would appear to be costly to produce and, hence, would have to besold at a fairly high price; also, because each mechanism requires thewoman to locate behind her boththe hook-ofthe mechanism and the zippertab, and insert the former in the latter; and lastly, the inclusion'ineach prior art mechanism of a hook could produce undesirable catching inthe dress fabric or the users' skin. Thus, although the basicidea of theexpired Vahan patent, namely, providing a wall mounted device forgripping a zipper tab behind a woman and enabling her, by pulling aflexible element, the end of which is conveniently located in front ofher, to cause the thus-gripped zipper tab to be moved up or down asdesired, is a good one, the prior art devices which have been devised tocarry out this basic idea have apparently been unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention obviates the problemsinherent in the prior art mechanisms by providing a greatly simplifieddrawstring device which operates to pull up or down a blocklikeelementmounted for movement along at least one track. Integral with theblock-like el-- from each side thereof through an end of the device isemployed by the user to pull the block up or down. The block may move onand be held by a plurality of tracks extending into slotting in theblocks, or the track may comprise a keyed cylindrical rodwith the blockcomprising an annulus moving coaxially on the rod and having aprojection extending into the keyway to prevent the annular block fromrotating about the cylindrical rod as it is moved therealong. In anotherembodiment, the cylindrical rod need not be keyed but one side of theblock may be matingly and slidably disposed in abutment witha back-upmember extending parallel with the rod.

Alternatively, the rod could be polygonial in cross section and theslidable annulus provided with an orifice similarly shaped slidably toreceive such rod and to be moved therealong.

In a still further embodiment, th orificed nose may be adjustablycantedly mounted on the end of an elongated member having a handle, andsaid nose with the zipper moved vertically by reaching over onesshoulder with this member. I

It may be seen, thus, that the present invention eliminates the hook ofthe prior art mechanisms and greatly simplifies. the drawing arrangementwith consequent ease of use and substantial reduction in the cost ofmanufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4 t I FIG. 6is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG'. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 9 is a section taken on the line-99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10is a plan view of a hook carrying tab insert.

FIG.'11 is a side elevation of the tab insert of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 13 is a section taken on the line l3l3 of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, theembodiment of the .inventionthere shown comprises an elongatedwallmounting strip 10, the ends l2, 14 of which are orificed at 16 topermit screws 18 to be passed therethrough in order to screw thestripends 12, 14 onto a wall or door 20.

i I A-rectangularly shaped housing 22 is secured by one sides 24, 28 and30 may have an inwardly projecting rib 24a, 28a, 30a respectivelycentrally disposed to extend for the length of the side. The ends of thehousing are closed by bevelled caps 35a, 35b. Each cap 35a, 35b iscentrally orificed at 35a, 35b respectively, to permit a cord 36 to bepassed therethrough.

Slidably fitting within the housing is a zipper tab carrier member 38which may be formed integrally to include a track riding block section40 and an outwardly projecting noselike element 42. The block section 40is vertically grooved on each of three sides at 40a, 40b, 40c, slidablyto receive respectively ribs 280, 24a and 30a, and has a pair oforifices 44 44a extending through it. A pair of cords 36, 36a, each ofwhich terminates at one end in a knob 46a or 46b is passed through anorifice 35a or 35b in the end caps 35a, 35b respectively and through anorifice 44 or 44a in block 40, where it is knotted at 45 or 45arespectively.

The noselike projection 42 is formed to taper to a blunt tip 48 intowhich extends a flat recess 50 which is adapted to receive a zipper tab52 of a zipper 54 attached to the fabric 56 of a womans dress, blouse orother garment.

The device of the FIGS. l-3 embodiment could be constructed of wood, butit lends itself more readily to being constructed of molded plasticcomponents which may be either molded together integrally, or wherenecessary to assemble in the final form, may be adhesively securedtogether in proper sequence. For example, the plate and back side 24 ofthe housing 22 could be molded together integrally. On the other hand,in order that the carrier member 38 may be fitted within the housing 22,one end cap 35a or 35b must be placed on the end of the housing 22 afterthe block section 40 of the carrier member 38 has been slipped into theend of the housing, which is to be closed by each cap 35a or 35b. Also,the slotted wall 32 may be separately formed from the remainder of thehousing and in two halves 32a, 32b divided along the line 58-58 andinserted into the lateral slots 60a, 60b in the carrier member 38 afterit is slipped into the other walls 24, 28, 30 of the housing to receiveribs 24a, 28a and 30a in its slots 40a, 40b and 40c, whereupon thehalves 32a, 32b may be adhered to the edges of the sides 28 and 30.

Also, the carrier member 38 may be formed of two halves 38a, 38b dividedalong the plane 62 -62 through the orifices 44, 44a thereby to permitinsertion of the cord 36 into said orifice. The halves 38a, 38b may thenbe adhered together.

In use, after the device is mounted on a wall or door 20, a womandesiring to zip up her dress where the zip per is located in the middleof her back, backs up to the noselike projection 42 and inserts thezipper tab 52 into the slotting 50, reaches for the upper cord knob 46band pulls the latter. Such pulling draws the carrier member 38 upwardlywithin the housing along the ribs 24a, 28a and 30a and moves itsnoselike projection 52 vertically but horizontally oriented, therebyraising with it vertically the zipper tab 52 to close the zipper 54. Inorder to effect an unzipping of her dress, a woman simply elevates thecarrier member 38 to the proper height for the zipper tab 52, insertsthe latter into the'slotting 50 in the noselike projection 42, and pullsthe lower knob 46a. Thereby, the carrier member 38 is moved downwardlywithin the housing, taking with it the zipper tab 52 to unzip the dress.

The two embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, differessentially from that illustrated in FIGS. l-3 inclusive, and describedabove, only in the method of tracking the carrier member and ineliminating the I housing 22. Thus, in the FIGS. 4 and 5 embodiment, thecarrier member 38 rides up and down along the pair of rods 62, 64, whichare of circular cross-sections and pass through the cylindrical orifices66, 68 respectively in the base or block section 70 of the member 38. Anadditional track may be provided in the form of the rib 72 of dovetailedcross-section which extends centrally along the strip 10 between theorificed terminal block members 74, 76. Rib 72 may be grooved at 78slidably to receive the cord 36 which only passes through and into thebase 70 for a short looping 80 as shown in FIG. 5.

The embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is even further simplified to the extentthat the carrier member 38" rides up and down on only a singlelongitudinally extending element 82. However, to prevent the member 38"from rotating about the element 82, the latter is made polygonial incross-section and the orifice 84 through which it passes is formed witha mating crosssection.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is quite similar to that shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, but differs in employing a cylindrical rod 82' as thecarrying track for the element 38". In order to prevent the latter fromrotating about the rod 82, its base 380 may be formed angularly to seatslidably within the angularly formed front wall 10a of the strip 10. Therod 82 may be slotted at 82a to permit the cord 36 to slide therein asit is pulled to draw the element 38" along the rod 82'. Additionally, inthe FIGS. 8 and 9 embodiment, the cord 36 is looped over the terminalblock 102 to return back down in a slot 103 extending the length of thestrip 10' down to an opening 104 below the lower terminal block 106. Thethus returned cord end 108 may be terminated with a knob 110 similar tothe knob 112 on the other end 113 of the cord 36', or the knobs 110 and112 may be formed or painted to distinguish each other and therebyindicate to the user which one will raise the zipper tab and which onewill pull it down. With this cord arrangement, each cord 108, 113 endmay be pulled downwardly to move the noselike carrier 38" upwardly ordownwardly.

FIGS. 10 and 11 disclose a hook insert tab 114 which may be utilized ifdesired with each of the noselike elements 38, 38, 38" and 38". Tab 114comprises a flat insert portion 114a and a gripping portion II4b. Thelatter is bulged out so that it can be gripped to insert the portion114a into the flat recess 50, and carries on it an upper hook 114a and alower hook 114d. This tab 114 may be employed if desired by the user toprovide hooking means for attachment to the zipper tab in lieu ofinserting such tab into the recess 50.

In the simplest embodiment of the invention of those illustrated in thedrawings, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, no provision is made for moving acarrier member 38 upwardly and downwardly along track means by a pullcord system. Instead, the member 39, is attached slightly rotatably inaseating cavity 86 provided in one end 88 of an elongated element 90, theother end 92 of which is formed as a handle. In this embodiment, themember 39, as the other carrier members 38, 38', 38" and 38" heretoforediscussed and illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9 inclusive, is similarlyformed of a base 94 and a tapered blunt noselike projection 96, in theend of which is provided a horizontal flat recess 98 to receive the tabof a zipper. In this embodiment of the invention, the user holds thehandle over or under her shoulder and brings the end 88 to the zippertab level. With her other hand she inserts the tab into the slot 98 andthen raises the element 90 by the handle 92 to pull up the zipper tab soinserted in the slot 98 in the noselike projection 96. In order toenable the member 39 to be disposed in substantially normal alignmentwith the users back despite the angle at which the element 90 will beheld over ones shoulder, whether by a lefthanded or righbhanded person,there is provided in the end 88 a double rectangular seating cavity 86with each rectangle'86a, 86b being disposed at about a 35 angularrotation from the other. The base 94 of the member 39 is rotatablysecured in the cavity 86 by a pin 100 so that the base may be rotatedabout the pin axis to seat in either the rectangle 86a or 86b, and wouldbe so disposed, depending upon whether the user employs the FIGS. ll, 12device with his right hand over his left or right shoulder, or left handover his left or right shoulder.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may thus be adapted tomany convenient forms and may be easily an inexpensively constructed. Itis simple to operate and by use of the bluntnose into which the zippertab is inserted, avoids the possibility of tearing the dress fabric orscratching the users skin.

I claim:

1. In combination for facilitating the opening and closing of zippers onarticles of clothing, such as womens dresses, the zipper having a tabfor operating the zipper,

a rigid elongated 'support'strip,

guide means extending in the elongated direction along the support stripand fixedly positioned relative to the elongated strip,

a carrier member supported on the guide means and slidably displaceablealong the guide means, the carrier member having a configuration forcooperation with the guide means to provide for reciprocal movement ofthe carrier member in the elongated direction, the carrier memberincluding an elongated portion extending outwardly from said strip andmaintained normally to the elongated strip direction during displacementof the carrier relative to the strip in said direction; and saidelongated portion terminating in a smooth, blunt nose, said nose havinga recess extending axially inwardly toward the strip for apredetermined'distance to receive and retain the tab of the zipperduring displacement of the carrier in the elongated direction relativeto the strip,

a pair of. cord means, one extending oppositely from the other from eachendof the carrier along the strip in the elongated direction, to theends of the strip, and a means at each end of the elongated strip tosupport the respective cord means for drawing thereby in its respectivedirection beyond the end of the strip.

2. In combination for facilitating the opening and closing of zippers onarticles of clothing such as womens dresses, the zipper having a tab foroperating the zipper,

a rigid elongated support strip,

guide means extending in the elongated direction along the support stripand fixedly positioned relative to the elongated strip, a carrier membersupported on the guide means and slidably displaceable along the guidemeans, the carrier member having a configuration for cooperation withthe guide means to provide for movement of the carrier member in theelongated direction, I

the carrier member extending outwardly from the elongated strip in adirection transverse to the elongated direction of the strip,

there being a recess at the outer end of the carrier member to receivethe tab of the zipper and retain the tab in the carrier transversely asthe carrier is displaced along the guide means,

a first end cap fixedly attached to the strip at one elongated end ofthe strip, there being an opening in the first end cap,

a second end cap fixedly attached to the strip at the other elongatedend of the strip, there being an opening in the second end cap,

a first cord attached to the carrier member and extending in onedirection from the carrier member through the opening in the first endcap and operable when activated to slide the carrier member in thatdirection along the guide means, and

a second cord attached to the carrier member and extending in anopposite direction from the carrier member through the opening in thesecond end cap and operable when activated to slide the carrier memberin the opposite direction along the guide means.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the guide means aredefined by sides provided on the strip and ribs provided in the sidesand the carrier member is provided with grooves to mate with the ribs onthe sidesv 4. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the guidemeans are defined by a rod fixedly secured to the first and second endcaps and disposed in substantially rigid relationship to the strip andsaid carrier member being provided with an aperture for support on therod in slidable relationship to the rod.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4, wherein the rod has across-sectional configuration different from a circle and the aperturein the carrier member has a mating configuration to prevent the carriermember from rotating relative to the rod.

1. In combination for facilitating the opening and closing of zippers onarticles of clothing, such as women''s dresses, the zipper having a tabfor operating the zipper, a rigid elongated support strip, guide meansextending in the elongated direction along the support strip and fixedlypositioned relative to the elongated strip, a carrier member supportedon the guide means and slidably displaceable along the guide means, thecarrier member having a configuration for cooperation with the guidemeans to provide for reciprocal movement of the carrier member in theelongated direction, the carrier member including an elongated portionextending outwardly from said strip and maintained normally to theelongated strip direction during displacement of the carrier relative tothe strip in said direction; and said elongated portion terminating in asmooth, blunt nose, said nose having a recess extending axially inwardlytoward the strip for a predetermined distance to receive and retain thetab of the zipper during displacement of the carrier in the elongateddirection relative to the strip, a pair of cord means, one extendingoppositely from the other from each end of the carrier along the stripin the elongated direction, to the ends of the strip, and means at eachend of the elongated strip to support the respective cord means fordrawing thereby in its respective direction beyond the end of the strip.2. In combination for facilitating the opening and closing of zippers onarticles of clothing such as women''s dresses, the zipper having a tabfor operating the zipper, a rigid elongated support strip, guide meansextending in the elongated direction along the support strip and fixedlypositioned relative to the elongated strip, a carrier member supportedon the guide means and slidably displaceable along the guide means, thecarrier member having a configuration for cooperation with the guidemeans to provide for movement of the carrier member in the elongateddirection, the carrier member extending outwardly from the elongatedstrip in a direction transverse to the elongated direction of the strip,there being a recess at the outer end of the carrier member to receivethe tab of the zipper and retain the tab in the carrier transversely asthe carrier is displaced along the guide means, a first end cap fixedlyattached to the strip at one elongated end of the strip, there being anopening in the first end cap, a second end cap fixedly attached to thestrip at the other elongated end of the strip, there being an opening inthe second end cap, a first cord attached to the carrier member andextending in one direction from the carrier member through the openingin the first end cap and operable when activated to slide the carriermember in that direction along the guide means, and a second cordattached to the carrier member and extending in an opposite directionfrom the carrier member through the opening in the second end cap andoperable when activated to slide the carrier member in the oppositedirection along the guide means.
 3. The combination set forth in claim2, wherein the guide means are defined by sides provided on the stripand ribs provided in the sides and the carrier member is provided withgrooves to mate with the ribs on the sides.
 4. The combination set forthin claim 2, wherein the guide means are defined by a rod fixedly securedto the first and second end caps and disposed in substantially rigidrelationship to the strip and said carrier member being provided with anaperture for support on the rod in slidable relationship to the rod. 5.The combination set forth in claim 4, wherein the rod has across-sectional configuration different from a circle and the aperturein the carrier member has a mating configuration to prevent the carriermember from rotating relative to the rod.